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Student Recognition Recipients from 2015-16

Lexi Nagy (Centennial-Grand Woodlands School), Madison Golden (Cobblestone Elementary School), Miciah Havens (Agnes G. Hodge Public School)

Three students from three different schools in Brant ventured to Toronto to share the stage with Cirque de Soleil and perform in the opening ceremony of the Pan Am Games last summer. Lexie Nagy of Centennial-Grand Woodlands School, Madison Golden of Cobblestone Elementary School, and Miciah Havens of Agnes G. Hodge Public School were selected from more than 500 dancers who tried out for the 133 spots. Lexie has been dancing since she was four years old and started to train at Carol Kitchens Dance Centre, but has since moved on to Pure Energy Performance. Madison dances at Dimensions Dance in Kitchener, on two teams – an intermediate competitive team and an intermediate/senior elite competitive team. Her favorite genres are jazz, ballet, lyrical, contemporary but she also likes hip hop, tap and acro.

Miciah also had her start at Carol Kitchen Dance Centre at the age of 2, and is currently a full time competitive dancer there. Miciah has had a number of private lessons at a gymnastics academy to help keep fit and offer some cross training.

 

Bailey, Grade 10, and Logan, Grade 12, Donaldson Waterford District High School

Last summer, Logan and his horse Homer took home the world Champion title in Breakaway Roping at the American Quarter Horse Youth Association World Championships last summer in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Logan also qualified in the top 10 in other events.

Breakaway roping is an event in which a calf is released from a chute and a rider attempts to throw a lasso around its neck. Logan wasn’t the only member of the family to attend the Championships last summer. Sister Bailey placed 6th in cutting – cutting is an event where horse and rider are timed for separating an animal away from a herd.

 

 

Bryce Savage Valley Heights Secondary School

Bryce has had significant success in basketball foul shooting, winning for the past two years at school competitions, the Knights of Columbus District competitions and at regional competitions in the London area. Bryce is formally identified with multiple exceptionalities (he has autism and a developmental disability), making his accomplishments shine. He was also awarded the Council for Exceptional Children Student Achievement Award last year.

Bryce and his family were unable to attend the Board meeting last month, but we were able to present him with his certificate of recognition and his gratitude for the award. Bryce was unable to attend the Board Meeting but we share this video to commemorate his achievement: http://bit.ly/1X9z9RT

 

Connor Carusello and Jack Richardson, McKinnon Park Secondary School

Both boys represented team Ontario in the Canada Cup last summer from July 13-19, 2015 in St. Jean, Quebec where they won the silver medal. Connor represented team Canada in Dallas Texas at the International Bowl in 2014 and Jack represented Team Canada in 2015 in Dallas at the International Bowl. Connor is a quarterback, and Jack is a centre. They are teammates on their school team and in representing Ontario at the Canada Cup, and they’re also teammates on the Hamilton Hurricanes of the Ontario Football Conference (OFC) where they won the provincial championship in 2014.

Jack has been recruited and has signed to attend school and play football at McMaster University next year. Connor has been highly sought after north and south of the border, but will be returning to MPSS for an additional year before choosing his path. Connor and Jack are being recognized tonight for their hard work, dedication and commitment to athletics in Grand Erie and for their success at the Canada Cup last summer.

 

Simcoe Composite School's Gay Straight Alliance

Simcoe Composite School’s Gay Straight Alliance hosted Grand Erie’s first annual Rainbow Ball last spring. The ‘Enchanted Circus’ themed event welcomed all gay, straight, bisexual and transgendered students within Grand Erie to attend an evening of fun and dancing at Simcoe Composite. About 60 students from 12 of the 14 secondary schools in the board attended. Due to last year’s great success, the Rainbow Ball returned for its second year, hosted on Thursday, April 21 at McKinnon Park Secondary School.

Grand Erie recognizes the efforts of SCS’ GSA for bringing an impactful event to Grand Erie and for demonstrating a commitment to providing a positive, safe, and inclusive space for students at their school.

 

Kataliya Sorensen, Nathaniel Reid-Smith, Sarah Lyn Carter, Hailey Cole, and Shasta Ritchie, Brantford Collegiate Institute

There were ten students in total from BCI's French Immersion program who took their French-language skills to another level last spring and participated in the Diplôme D`études en Langue Française examination (DELF).

The DELF exam is frequently used around the world in marketing, with employers, and higher education institutions. It signifies a high level of French proficiency and bilingualism. This is the first time that Grand Erie FSL students have participated and successfully completed the exam. The other five students who were unable to attend are Elizabeth Balint, Montana Schott, Raina Ritchie, Austyn Antonowicz, and Matthew Hudson.

 

 

Liam Allen, Grade 7, Ecole Fairview

As the youngest black belt on the Canadian team last year, Liam Allen travelled to Brazil for the World Karate Organization’s championship with Don Warrener’s Martial Arts Academy. During this major competition, he won gold in both his division and the older division of kata, and weapons kata; gold in sparring for his division; and silver in sparring in the older division.

As a result he received an overall gold medal in the junior division for the competition.

 

 

 

Ethan Golden, Grade 8, Ryerson Heights Elementary

Ethan Golden is an advocate for juvenile arthritis and has been working towards collecting one-million dimes to support juvenile arthritis research. He recently won the 2015 Youth in Philanthropy Award from the Association of Professional Fundraisers – Golden Horseshoe Chapter.

Best known for wearing his bowtie, Ethan has been involved and seen volunteering his time at a number of community events in Brantford and Brant County, raising awareness for his campaign.

 

 

 

Jacey Nelligan, Grade 12, Cayuga Secondary School

Jacey has received 32 medals and 20 ribbons for championships, tournaments, and most valuable player awards by the age of 17. She currently plays softball for the Ancaster Blizzards as a third baseman and catcher. This summer her team travelled to PEI for the national competition after winning provincials. Jacey’s team won the Eastern Canada Championship in softball. She has been playing sports since she was 3-years-old finding an interest in softball from her mom who won gold for the Canadian Women’s Softball team in 2013 and in hockey from her dad.